The Problem of Evil
Get Ken's new book, "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective" on Amazon!
Short:
"God never prevents anything?"
Short:
"God can bring good from evil"
Short:
"Do bad things happen because we sin?"
Video:
"Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective: The Emotional Versus Intellectual Problem of Evil"
Class taught on October 28, 2021

In the first class of "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective," we will talk about the first question Christians absolutely must answer when someone raises the problem of evil... Why is the other person asking? Sometimes the question comes up as an intellectual objection to Christianity. Other times it is emotionally driven coming from the felt need of someone who has undergone immense suffering. Our approach needs to be different based upon the needs of the person asking.
Video:
"Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective: What is Evil?"
Class taught on November 4, 2021

In the second class of "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective," we will explore the nature of evil. Skeptics claim that the presence of evil in the world is inconsistent with the existence of a loving God. But how can we even begin to answer that question unless we first define what we mean by "evil?" That is the purpose of this class session.
Video:
"Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective: The Moral Argument for the Existence of God"
Class taught on November 11, 2021

In the third class of "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective," we will explore the moral argument for the existence of God. Skeptics claim the various arguments from evil show that God does not exist, but in reality by even making the argument they are assuming the exact opposite of what they seek to prove.
Video:
"Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective: Logical Arguments, Evidential Arguments & Theodicies"
Class taught on November 18, 2021

In class four out of six of "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective," we dive into the nature of the arguments from evil that are launched against Christianity. First we will explain what makes up a "logical" argument and the leading defense Christians offer in response. Then we will explore "evidential" arguments and a few theodicies that answer them.
Video:
"Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective: Gratuitous and the Bayesian Argument"
Class taught on December 2, 2021

In class five out of six of "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective," we look at two specific evidential arguments from evil to see if they hold up. First we examine William Rowe's argument from gratuitous evil, then we turn to Paul Draper's Bayesian Argument.
Video:
"Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective: Getting from the Page to the Person"
Class taught on December 9, 2021

Our final class in "Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective" focuses on practical application. We will walk through some real life statements that have been made on social media, video, popular speeches, etc., and see how we might respond (using the material we have covered over the past 5 classes) if someone made these statements to us in conversation.
Article:
"Does Theistic Evolution Solve the Problem of Evil"
April 26, 2021
Article:
"How Evil is Evidence for Christianity"
April 25, 2021
Article:
"Evil as a Corruption of the Good"
April 24, 2021
Article:
"Gratuitous Evil and the Greater Good Theodicy"
April 18, 2021
Article:
"Refuting Evidential Problems of Evil"
April 18, 2021
Article:
"Refuting the Logical Problem of Evil"
April 11, 2021
Article:
"The Moral Argument and the Problem of Evil"
March 28, 2021
Article:
"Christian Exclusivism and the Problem of Evil"
March 21, 2021
Article:
"Evaluating Polkinghorne's Response to Moral and Physical Evil"
March 12, 2021
Video:
"What is Evil?"
Video:
"The Free Will Theodicy"
Video:
"A Christian Discussion of Mass Shootings and Tragedies"
Talk show from August 14, 2018
Pastor Jay Jackson, Pastor Chuck Lashley and host Ken Coughlan sit down and have an open, frank discussion about mass shootings and other tragedies. Where is God when they occur? How should we, as Christians, respond? How do we cope if we are affected by such an event? What do we think of the criticism many seem to be launching when we say we will pray for the victims and their families?
Video:
"Where Was God in Las Vegas?"
Talk show from October 9, 2017

Ken Coughlan and Pastor Paul Austin discuss the theological questions that arose after the Las Vegas mass shooting.
Short:
"Does the Bible condone evil?"
Video:
"The Moral Argument and the Problem of Evil"
Class taught August 21, 2018
Blog:
"The Inherent Value of Free Will"
Post for Ten Minas Ministries from November 11, 2010
Blog:
"Refined by Fire"
Post for Ten Minas Ministries from March 4, 2010
Blog:
"Free Will & Morality"
Post for Ten Minas Ministries from June 18, 2007
Blog:
"The Existential(?) Argument from Suffering..."
Post for Ten Minas Ministries from April 3, 2007